Multiple switch with ganged switch construction and improved actuator cam structure



Nov. 15, 1966 R J. MINCONE 3,286,046

MULTIPLE SWITCH WTTH GANGED SWITCH CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVED ACTUATOR CAM STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 28, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 15, 1966 NE 3,286,046

R. J. MlNCO MULTIPLE SWITCH WITH GANGED SWITCH CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVED ACTUATOR CAM STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 28, 1966 United States Patent 4 3,286,046 MULTIPLE SWITCH WITH GANGED SWITCH CON- STRUCTION AND IMPROVED ACTUATOR CAM STRUCTURE Raymond John Mincone, 52 Longfellow Ave.,

Plainedge, N.Y. Filed Jan. 28, 1966, Ser. No. 526,678 9 Claims. (Cl. 2008) This invention relates to a novel switch and more particularly to a programable switch capable of a vast number of switch combinations.

It is an object of this invention to provide a switch of small over all size capable of being manually p-ro-gramed into a large number of combinations.

It is another object to provide a switch of sturdy construction and parts in order to keep the cost thereof to a minimum.

It is another object to provide a multiple switch which may be easily and rapidly disassembled in order to insert and/or remove program elements.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following descriptive disclosure of an illustrative embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which;

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the switch,

FIG. 2 is a section view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a section view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is an end view,

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the switch showing the three major parts thereof; namely the metal housing, the rectangular plastic outer chamber and the cylindrical essentially plastic inner chamber and the shorting logic inserts thereof.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail of the cylinder showing the removal of the logic insert from the number 2 channel, and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an electrical non-shorting type logic insert.

Turning to the drawing there is shown a twelve (12) deck or channel cylindrical element having 12 insert positions on each channel tor a spacing of thirty (30) degrees between adjacent inserts. Of course the number of channels on the cylinder may vary as well as the angular spacing between the inserts, i.e. number of inserts in each channel.

For the embodiment shown herein with 30 degree indexing and 12 channels it is possible to obtain up to 78 circuit combinations per position of a total of 936 possible circuit combinations per switch.

For a twenty four channel cylinder at 15 degree in dexing or 24 positions it is possible to obtain 300 combina-tions per position for a total of 7,200 possible circuit combinations for the switch.

Clearly, the switch of this invention is compact. Furthermore it'is explosion proof. Moreover, it is flexible in that the various combinations are rapidly and easily made by the :mere addition or substraction of logic inserts.

The logic inserts used herein are of two types, namely the shorting smooth back insert of FIGS. 1 to 6 and the non-shorting hump back insert of FIG. 7. In the use of shorting inserts, contact is broken with one insert 50 before being made with the next adjacent insert 50. In the use of non-shorting inserts 5 1, nib 32 contact is maintained momentarily with the first insert while the second insert is being engaged.

Turning to the drawing, a substantially rectangular tubular housing 10 is provided with a plurality of parallel equally spaced-apart pairs of circuit apertures in the top -wall 11 and.also with a likeplurality of parallel equally spaced-apart pairs of circuit apertures in the bottom wall 12, the latter being disposed in offset relationship to the top wall 11 apertures in order to engage adjacent channels of a rotatable element to be described hereinafter (FIG. 2).

The housing 10 is provided with a front wall 10X which is provided with a cylindrical threaded tltbular portion 10Y to permit passage of a shaft. The front wall 10X is preferably also provided with a locking stub 10Z for engagement with a panel wall and thereby prevent rotation of the housing 10.

An outer chamber 13 (FIG. 5 made of suitable plastic for example, Teflon electrical insulating material is provided with a plurality of six U-shaped channels 14 in its top wall and with six U-shaped channels 15 in its bottom wall, with channels 15 otfset with relation to channels 14 (FIG. 2).

The rear wall of the chamber 13 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is provided with diagonally opposed triangular integral abutments 16 having screw threaded apertures 17 adapted to receive the screw threaded captive pins 18 of backplate 19 (FIG. 4).

The back wall of the outer chamber 13 is provided with a plurality of twelve circularly disposed numbered index ca'vities 20 spaced at 30 degree intervals. One or two cylindrical posts or pins 21 adapted to be selectively slip fitted into cavities 20 may be used, if need be for specific programing purposes.

Thus when a three position switch is required insert a pin 21 in the cavity numbered 3 and one in the constant cavity numbered 12. When a seven position switch is required insert a pin 21 in the cavity numbered 7 and one in the constant cavity numbered 12. When continuous rotation is desired, remove all pins 21.

Turning now to FIG. 3, there is shown the manner of hooking up the many electrical circuits in the device of this invention. Each of the circuits have an inlet terminal 22 and an outlet terminal 23 both for the odd numbered circuits (numbered 1 to 11) on the top wall 11 and for the even numbered circuits (numbered 2 to 12) on the bottom wall 12.

The terminals 22 and 23 are all identical and comprise a flanged metal tubular element 25 having a flange 26 disposed in a flanged plastic electrical tubular insulator 27. A conduit wire 28 is soldered into each tubular element 25 in order to effect a good electrical contact.

As shown in FIG. 3, an inlet flat spring metal contact element 29 is permanently secured to the bottom wall of a respective U-shaped channel 14 or 15 by means of a metal rivet 30 disposed in a corresponding cavity located in the outer chamber 13. The springy contact element 29 is provided with an aperture 31 and an insulator plastic preferably Teflon nib 32 is secured thereto by having its top portion 33 molded or flanged over the aperture 31.

An outlet flat contact element 34 is secured to the outer chamber 13 by a rivet 30 in a manner identical to the securing of the contact element 29.

As shown in FIG. 3, the metal elements 25 pressingly engage the respective metal contact elements 29 or 34 to produce good electrical contacts therewith.

The outer chamber 13 is provided with a central tubular cylindrical aperture 36 as Well as with centrally disposed bevel edged preferably rectangular apertures 37 to receive the nibs 32.

An important feature of this invention is the provision of an inner plastic multi-channeled cylindrical logic chamber 40.

The logic chamber is preferably made of Teflon plastic and is provided with as many circular channels 41 of substantially U-shaped construction as there are electrical circuits. In the example shown in the drawing, thereare twelve logic channels 41 since there are six top channels 14 and six bottom channels 15 to co-act therewith. The twelve numbered channels 41 of the inner logic chamber 40 are so arranged with respect to the numbered twelve outer chamber channels 14 andlS that for example channel number one of the inner chamber 40 co-acts only with channel (circuit) number one of the outer chamber 13 through its aperture 37, and channel number two of the logic inner chamber co-acts with channel (circuit) number two of the outer chamber 13 through an aperture 37 therein, etc.

y The logic chamber 40 is provided with a smooth abutment 42 to rubbingly engage the end plate 19 in order to remove looseness or play between thevarious components of this device. The chamber 40 is also provided with a suitably long centrally disposed cavity at its front end and a metal shaft 44 is fixedly secured therein as by press fit or by molding process.

The circular channels 41 of the inner chamber 40 are provided with rectangular cavities 45 in the bottom walls thereof at thirty degree intervals. These cavities 45 receive the bifurcated prongs of the logic inserts hereinafter described.

The inner chamber 40 is further provided with a relatively deep cylindrical cavity 46 in its outer surface adjacent its rear Wall. The cavi'ty46 receives a stop pin 47 which engages the selectively disposed pins or posts 21 on the outer chamber 13 to limit the angular rotation of the inner chamber 40 if required by the pro-gram sched ule used. I

Moreover, the inner chamber-40 is provided with a plurality of twelve suitably positioned shallow locking concave cavities 47X adapted to receive a conventional spring loaded detent element 48 permanently located in a well cavity on the top wall of outer chamber 13.

p The use of the detent element 48 locks the inner chamber 40 to the outer chamber 13 at specific thirty degree peripheral spacings used in the program schedule.

The cavities 45 of the channels 41 of the inner chamber 40 are adapted to receive a shorting plastic logic insert 50 or a non-shorting type plastic logic insert 51 (FIG. 7).

The logic inserts 50 are each provided with a bifurcated prong 52 for press fit into a cavity 45 of an inner logic chamber 40. The inserts 50 and 51 are of a width to fit in the channels 41 and are of such height as to be fully disposed within the channels 41 with the curved top surface 53 in engagement with the tubular surface 36 of the outer chamber 13 (FIG. 3). The inserts 50 and 51 are of such circular length as to permit twelve inserts to be disposed in the twelve respective cavities 45 within each channel 41.

Preferably the insert 50 is provided with a cavity 54 in its top surface 53 to permit insertion of a rod-like tool (not shown) to facilitate their handling, insertion and removal.

The non-shorting type insert 51 is provided with a hump 56 in order to effect .a breakbefore-make or nonshortinlg of the contacts 29 and 34.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the assembled switch is provided with a conventional bronze bearing 60- disposed about shaft 44 and a washer 61 and a lock nut 62 are disposed on the housing element Y to secure the housing 10 by stub 10Z to a panel 63. A conventional finger knob 64 is fixedly secured as by a conventional set screw to the shaft 44 in order to rotate the inner chamber 40.

Clearly, twelve logic inserts 50 are selectively removable from each of the twelve inner chamber channels 41. Obviously the twelve circuits leading into the switch may be actuated in many combinations for each thirty degree :index position.

As shown in FIG. 4, the rear wall of .the inner chamber 40 is indexed from 1 to 12. Thus when top number one position of the index is programed by insertion or re moval of logic inserts 50 to actuate the odd numbered circuits 1 to 11 in the top wall of the housing, the bottom index number 7 may be programed by insertion or removal of logic insertsStI to actuate the even numbered circuits in the bottomwall 12 of the housing 1Q.

Thus each index odd numbered position and its opposite eo-acting even numbered position are separately programed yet simultaneously actuated. Thus the switch shown is pair operated having live wires at its top wall 11 and its bottom wall 1-2. However, by use of terminals 25 disposed on all four sides of the housing it is obvious that the number of active circuits can be greatly increased.

Also by increasing the length of the inner chamber 40 and thus the number of channels 41 with corresponding increase of housing 10 and also of the outer chamber and the number of channels 14 and 15, it is clear that the number of simultaneously actuated circuits may be increased.

Furthermore, by increasing the indexing at fifteen degree circular spacing with corresponding diminution of length of the logic inserts, the number of logic combinations possible for a single inner chamber is greatly increased.

Clearly, this invention lends itself to the handling of innumerable circuit combinations being simultaneously activated or deactivated at any one time.

When changes in programing of the inner chamber 40 is desired, it is an easy matter to remove the knob ,64 and nut 63 and the back plate 19 and then to slide out the inner chamber. After removal or insertion of the inserts 50 to the inner chamber 40 to make up a new predetermined schedule of simultaneous operation of the circuits, the inner chamber is inserted into the outer chamber andthen locked back in place. I

Where only a few of the many, index positions are required, pins 21 are inserted in the cavities 20' and pin 47 inserted as previously predetermined into cavity 46. In such event, the rotation of the inner logic chamber 40 is restricted to the angle between the two posts 21 (FIG. 4) and hence to the combinations programed between these posts.

This invention is of a generic scope and thus is not limited to the illustration shown herein nor to the specific material of construction used for illustrative purposes herein.

I claim:

1. An electrical programable multisw'itch for simultaneous operation of a plurality of circuits comprising an outside tubular housing having a plurality of pairs of circuit posts thereon; an inner tubular element slidably disposed in said outside housing and having a cylindrical tube therethrough, said inner element having a plurality of channels in the exterior surfaces each with an aperture communicating with the cylindrical tube therein; a cylindrical rotatable element adapted for slidable insertion in said cylindrical tube of said inner element and having a plurality of circular channels therein, each communicating with .a respective aperture of a channel of said inner tubular element; electrical contact means secured within each of said channels of said inner tubular member and engaging a respective pair of circuit posts, each contact means having a non-conducting nib disposed in the aperture of said channel and adapted to effectuate make-andbreak contact; and selectively removeable insert means in said channels of said rotatable element and adapted to engage said nib to thereby effectuate a make or break electrical contact.

2. The switch of claim 1 wherein said outside tubular housing is a metal rectangular housing having .a tube therein of rectangular cross section and wherein said inner tubular element is of rectangular cross section.

3. The switch of claim 2 comprising detent means disposed in the rear portion of said inner tubular element and wherein said rotatable element is provided with a plurality of circumferentially disposed detent receiving cavities whereby said rotatable element is selectively locked to effectuate a plurality of predetermined circuit positions. i y d 4. The switch of claim 3 wherein the circular channels of said rotatable element is provided with spaced-apart cavities adapted to receive an insert, each of said inserts being provided with prong means for locking engagement to said cavities.

5. The switch of claim 4 wherein said inner tubular element is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart holes disposed in the rear wall about the tubular opening thereof; post means selectively insertable in said hole of said inner element, said rotatable cylindrical element having hole in the cylindrical surface adjacent its rear wall; and a pin inserted said hole of said rotatable element for engagement with said posts means of inner tubular element to limit the amount of angular rotation thereof.

6. The switch of claim 5 wherein the channels of said inner tubular element are linear and disposeclon opposed sides in offset relationship whereby successive channels of said rotatable element engage alternately a top and a bottom linear channel of said inner tubular element.

'7. The switch of claim 6 comprising an axle disposed in the front wall of said rotatable element for manual selective rotation thereof, and rear plate means for securing to said inner tubular member, said rotatable element being index numbered to indicate operation of inserts in the top and the bottom circuits of the housing.

'8. A programable switch for selective operation of a multiplicity of combinations of circuits comprising a tubular housing having a plurality of parallel paired spacedapart circuit posts thereon; a tubular outer chamber having an axial cylindrical opening adapted for slideable insertion into said housing and having a linear channel adapted to be disposed beneath each pair of posts, each channel having an aperture communicating with said cylindrical axial opening; an inner cylindrical chamber adapted to be disposed rotatably in said cylindrical opening of said outer housing, said inner chamber having a plurality of circular channels therein, each of said circular channels adapted to receive a plurality of inserts; and an electrical switch disposed in each of said linear channels, each switch having a insulation nib disposed in the aperture of a channel of said outer chamber for sliding engagement with said inserts on said rotatable inner chamber to effect .a make or break contact of said electrical means.

9. A multiple easily programable switch for selective simultaneous operation of a predetermined numbered of electrical circuits comprising a rectangular housing having a plurality of paired circuit posts in the outer walls thereof; an outer rectangular electrical insulator chamber adapted for insertion in said housing and having a plurality of channels therein each adapted for co-action with one of said electrical circuits, said outer chamber having a centrally disposed cylindrical tubular opening with a communicating aperture leading from each of said channels to said tubular opening; electrical make or break contact means secured on each side of each of said aperture of said channels, each contact means having an electrical non-conducting nib secured thereto for movement in an aperture to effect a make or break electrical contact; a cylindrical electrical insulator inner logic chamber having a plurality of circular channels in its cylindrical wall adapted for insertion in said cylindrical tubular opening of said outer chamber, each of said circular channels communicating with a said aperture of an outer chamber channel, said inner logic chamber being adapted to receive logic inserts adapted to slidingly actuate said nibs to effect a make or break electrical contact.

No references cited.

ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

I. R. SCOTT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ELECTRICAL PROGRAMABLE MULTISWITCH FOR SIMULTANEOUS OPERATION OF A PLURALITY OF CIRCUITS COMPRISING AN OUTSIDE TUBULAR HOUSING HAVING A PLURALITY OF PAIRS OF CIRCUIT POSTS THEREON; AN INNER TUBULAR ELEMENT SLIDABLY DISPOSED IN SAID OUTSIDE HOUSING AND HAVING A CYLINDRICAL TUBE THERETHROUGH, SAID INNER ELEMENT HAVING A PLURALITY OF CHANNELS IN THE EXTERIOR SURFACES EACH WITH A APERTURE COMMUNICATING WITH CYLINDRICAL TUBE THEREIN; A CYLINDRICAL ROTATABLE ELEMENT ADAPTED FOR SLIDABLE INSERTION IN SAID CYLINDRICAL TUBE FOR SAID INNER ELEMENT AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF CIRCULAR CHANNELS THERIN, EACH COMMUNICATING WITH A REPRESENTIVE APERTURE OF A CHANNEL OF SAID INNER TUBULAR ELEMENT; ELECTRICAL CONTACT MEANS SECURED WITHIN EACH OF SAID CHANNELS OF SAID INNER TUBULAR MEMBER AND ENGAGING A RESPECTIVE PAIR OF CIRCUIT POSTS, EACH CONTACT MEANS HAVING A NON-CONDUCTING NIB DISPOSED IN THE APERTURE OF SAID CHANNEL AND ADAPTED TO EFFECTUATE MAKE-ANDBREAK CONTACT; AND SELECTIVELY REMOVEABLE INSERT MEANS IN SAID CHANNELS OF SAID ROTATABLE ELEMENT AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID NIB TO THEREBY EFFECTUATE A MAKE OR BREAK ELECTRICAL CONTACT. 